Macbeth Theme Of Ambition

Once Macbeth learns of the witches’ prophesy that he will be King of Scotland, Macbeth immediately assumes that he must murder Duncan, the current king. Macbeth’s driving ambition to fulfill this prophesy causes him to believe that “If it were done, when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well / It were done quickly” (I, vii, 1-2). Macbeth is reluctant to murder King Duncan, because Duncan was a gentle, generous, and trustworthy king. On the contrary, Macbeth believes that if he will not be held accountable for murdering Duncan, he should murder Duncan shortly. This demonstrates that Macbeth is not overly concerned about the act of murdering Duncan, but only concerned about the final result.

Lady Macbeth even sees her husband’s weaknesses and uses his weaknesses to harass him into killing Duncan. This can be observed when, at one stage, Macbeth criticises the idea of killing a good king and believes that the killing should not proceed, his wife forces him to kill by saying offensive words. She questions Macbeth’s love for her, she questions Macbeth’s masculinity and she criticises Macbeth’s desire to be king. These three statements offend Macbeth. Because Macbeth wants to prove his manhood, his love for his wife and his desire to be king, he agrees to murder Duncan.

Lady Macbeth, wanting to be queen of Scotland, provided her husband with a plan to assassinate King Duncan. At first Macbeth hesitated to murder Duncan. He was afraid of the aftereffects and didn't deem it right to kill a king who was just and of such high stature. Unfortunately for Duncan, Macbeth's ambitions slowly overpowered his morals and loyalty. Even though Macbeth was uncertain, his ambition for power was able to take over his mind, and provided him with a sufficient excuse to murder King Duncan.

Although, with the ambitions, comes the doubt of going through with the plan and creating a future with a certain end result of hell (Shakespeare). Lady Macbeth 's support and confidence in his abilities strengthens his resolve and convinces him that his actions are a necessary factor in being king (Shakespeare). If the support had ceased to exist, then Macbeth would have lost all of his resolve because in the midst of carrying out murder, he hesitates (Shakespeare). Lady Macbeth 's words are the ones that push him to finish it (Shakespeare). Macbeth 's hasty ascension to the throne is the product of harmful decisions created by pressure from a loved one, not unlike family dramas in the news

His ambition to be king dissolved his good nature and morality. When Duncan arrives at Inverness, Macbeth controlled his ambition for the time being and thought very firmly on the plotting of Duncan’s murder. A quote by Lady Macbeth stated “My hands are of your color; but I shame to wear a heart so white”. When Lady Macbeth called him a coward, before you knew it, the murder was taking place. After the successful murder of Duncan, Macbeth entered a life of evil.

When Macbeth has the opportunity to think about his wife’s suggestions and about his desires to become King, he becomes aware of the duty that he owes to Duncan, his loyal King. Following a great battle with himself, Macbeth decides not to go through with the murder. He states to Lady Macbeth: ?We will proceed no further in this business.? Macbeth is not prepared for all her wrath and abuse. She calls him a coward.

The reader can see that the ruthlessness that lied in Macbeth is coming out when he says “The Prince of Cumberland – that is a step On which I must fall down or else o’erleap, For in my way it lies. Despite the fact that Macbeth is a ruthless individual Lady Macbeth makes him look like a saint. After Lady Macbeth reads her husband’s letter she sees an opportunity to become queen that she probably never thought about. Lady Macbeth’s desire for her husband to become king is stronger than Macbeth’s own desire for the throne. After Lady Macbeth learns that Duncan is going to visit Inverness she begins plotting to kill him even though her husband does show hesitation to kill Duncan.

Macbeth is tempted to do evil and Lady Macbeth is the key person, the one person that Macbeth trusts and loves, who makes sure that his aim is thorough and complete. This does not make her his partner in crime but rather just what he needs in order to succeed and be King. After the murder of the King Lady Macbeth wants to support her husband, but she has no further role to play in his life except to interpret the image of queen. Because of this she is left on the sidelines and breaks down eventually going crazy.

Yet I do fear thy nature;/It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness/To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great,/Art not without ambition, but without/The illness should attend it” (1.5.2-7). Here, Lady Macbeth is acknowledging that Macbeth is ambitious; however, he lacks the nerve to take action for his goals. Her thoughts immediately turn to murder as she prompts Macbeth to strike quickly with voracity. Macbeth is not as innately cruel so these principles have to be nailed into him by his wife. When the opportunity arrives for Macbeth to usurp the throne, Lady Macbeth lays out the entire scheme to capture the throne.

Here's another / More potent than the first." The vaulting ambitions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth lead to the death of King Duncan. For the sake of Macbeth's ambition, he is willing to murder his cousin, Duncan. Macbeth realizes that murdering his king is perfidious and blasphemous because every king is set on throne by God; he is driven by his undying aspiration to steal the throne and be king: "I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself / And falls on th' other." Lady Macbeth is also moved by her avarice to be alongside her husband on the throne.